HC Deb 13 March 1811 vol 19 cc365-6
Lord Folkestone

said, that as the time was arrived when the notices should come on, and the members most particularly concerned in his intended motion upon the subject of Ex Officio Informations, were not in their places, he should move that the House do now adjourn, at the same time giving notice that he would bring forward the same motion on Thursday, (to-morrow.)

Mr. Bankes

was of opinion that a considerable degree of inconvenience would result from agreeing to the motion of adjournment, as there was some public business standing for this day, which ought not to be impeded in its progress through the House.

Lord Folkestone

said, that the ground upon which he made the motion was the nature of the new arrangement. He had given regular notice that on this day he should bring the subject of Ex Officio Informations by the Attorney and Solicitors General under the consideration of the House. This was the day when, according to the new arrangement, notices took place of orders, and yet though it was now fire o'clock, the gentlemen were not come down, and several notices were gone through.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

said, he was sure that the House would not agree to an adjournment in the present instance, as he had himself given notice of a motion upon Exchequer Bills. If the noble lord thought proper, he might postpone his motion to a future clay.

Mr. Abercrombie

thought, that no member should omit an opportunity of exposing the inconvenience resulting from the late arrangement introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was generally understood that Wednesday was not a day of business, and the absence of the Attorney and Solicitors-General had placed the noble lord in an extraordinary situation, for he must now postpone his motion until after the orders of the day were disposed of, or bring it on in the absence of those gentlemen who were principally interested in the discussion.

Lord Folkestone

agreed to withdraw the motion of adjournment, and said, that in the course of the evening he would name a day for the motion he had noticed for this night.—The noble lord afterwards gave notice, that it was his intention to persist in his motion to-morrow.

The Attorney General

said, he, was sorry that in courtesy to him the motion of the noble lord had been postponed; he was unavoidably detained to that moment, and it was the first time that such a thing had happened to him.